Manoel Leira

My research is focused on understanding how diatoms can be used as "proxies" of the effects of long-term changes in climate and land-use in aquatic ecosystems. Although the original focus of my research was on inland lakes, especially those affected by acidification or eutrophication, research on mesohaline ecosystems has been increasing during the last decade (Portugal estuaries and coastal wetlands in Spain). These initiatives include palaeolecological investigations to provide context for sea level and human impact investigations. Coastal wetlands may be described as low lying areas with a direct connection to the sea. Consequently they are usually brackish with regard to water quality and are often tidal, depending on location. Many are of major importance for biodiversity yet they also supply important services for people. Furthermore, their finely balanced aquatic ecosystems are highly vulnerable to disturbance associated with human activites both within their boundaries or in upstream areas which provide sources of freshwater. They are also sensitive to sea level changes and other climate related effects. Following up early initiatives, a significant FCT funded project (CLIMARES), co-ordinated by me and involving the University of Lisbon, explores sediment records in tidal marshes in the Sado estuary. This project will provide information on the long-term development and patterns of variability of this system and relationships to socio-cultural developments, vital to understand and mitigate the effects of global change on the coast.

Links

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manel_Leira/info?ev=prf_inf Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=7X_yQc0AAAAJ Researcher ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/G-3283-2013

SCOPUS ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=24559622200 ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9024-9448